Health Watch: 10 tips for the outer you

Monday

Dec 27, 2010 at 12:01 AMDec 27, 2010 at 2:42 PM

Weekly health watch with items on tips for healthy skin, nails and hair, a link between fried fish and strokes, 2008 birth rates and more.

The new year is a great time to make some resolutions to keep your skin, hair and nails healthy. At least your dermatologist will be happy, and you can ask him or her any questions that you might have about staying healthy on the outside.

Here are 10 tips to keep you healthy looking from head to toe:

Protect yourself from the sun.Help prevent signs of aging, such as age spots and fine lines, and significantly decrease your risk of developing skin cancer by using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat or sunglasses, and seeking shade when appropriate. Choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor, or SPF, of at least 30 and choose broad-spectrum protection, which protects against ultraviolet A and B rays.

Do not use tanning beds.Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look like you've been in the sun, consider using a sunless self-tanning product in the form of lotion, foam or spray, but continue to use sunscreen with it.

Perform a skin self-exam.Examining your skin for suspicious moles and other lesions could save your life. Use the American Academy of Dermatology's body mole map, located at www.melanomamonday.org, to record your moles and learn how to perform a proper skin exam. If you find a suspicious lesion, make an appointment to see a dermatologist.

Don't skip the hair conditioner.Dermatologists recommend using a conditioner after every shampoo. While a conditioner cannot repair hair, it can increase shine, decrease static electricity, improve strength and offer some protection from harmful UV rays.

Eat a healthy diet.A diet rich in fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains and other healthy foods can lead to healthier skin. Because our skin is made of protein, it is necessary for healthy skin. Be sure to include some lean protein in your diet.

If your skin feels dry, moisturize.After bathing is the best time to moisturize so that you can trap water in the skin. If your skin still feels dry, apply moisturizer a few times throughout the day.

Stop smoking.People who smoke expose their skin to toxins that accelerate the aging of their skin. Plus, the repeat puckering to inhale can cause deep lines around the lips. Frequent squinting to avoid getting smoke in one's eyes can also cause noticeable crow's feet.

Manage stress.To keep your skin looking its best, it is important to effectively manage stress. Chronic stress can wreak havoc on your skin, hair and nails. It can worsen many skin conditions, including psoriasis, acne and rosacea. Stress can cause brittle nails and ridging of the nails, and lead to hair loss.

If you have acne, do not pick, pop or squeeze the blemishes.People mistakenly believe that picking and popping pimples will get rid of them quickly. The truth is doing any of these can irritate the skin, make acne worse and increase the risk of scarring.

For more healthy skin, hair and nail tips, visit the American Academy of Dermatology's website at www.aad.org.

-- ARA

New Research: Fried fish linked to high stroke rates

People living in the “stroke belt” states (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana) eat more fried fish than people living in the rest of the country, which may contribute to the high rate of death fromstroke in those states. Studies have shown that the omega-3 fatty acids in fish, especially fatty fish, may reduce the risk of stroke. But research has also shown that frying fish leads to the loss of the natural fatty acids.

When you return from a holiday trip, especially if you traveled abroad, it is important to continue to monitor your health. If you are not feeling well, you should see your doctor and mention your recent trip. Note that infectious diseases physicians specialize in diseases of travel.

-- CDC.gov

Number to Know

350,000: More than 350,000 people were treated in hospitals, doctors’ offices and emergency rooms for winter sports-related injuries in 2009.

-- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Children’s Health: 2008 birth rates

Rates of cesarean deliveries, or C-sections, rose to 32.3 percent in 2008, marking its 12th consecutive increase, according to the Annual Summary of Vital Statistics: 2008, a report from the National Center for Health Statistics and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Here are some highlights:

There were 4,251,095 births in 2008, about 2 percent less than in 2007, which was a year that saw the highest number of births ever registered for the United States.

Birth rates decreased for women ages 20 to 39, and they increased for women ages 40 to 49. The 1 percent decline in ages 35 to 39 was the first since 1978.

-- American Academy of Pediatrics

Senior Health: Don’t drive with right foot braces

Patients recovering from a right foot injury or surgery should think twice about how soon they want to begin driving again. According to a new study from the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, it takes much longer to brake when the driver is wearing an immobilization device like a splint or brace, than it does when wearing normal footwear.

Researchers measured emergency braking time in people using a brake adapted for use by the left foot, when wearing a short leg cast, a controlled ankle-motion boot or normal footwear. The results showed that all of the devices, except for normal footwear, impaired the drivers’ ability to brake quickly.

-- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

GateHouse News Service

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